"Roots was a phenomenon for African American actors. Finally they’re telling the truth on national television, thank God. African Americans already kinda knew the story. We'd talked about it in our kitchens and our bathrooms and our living rooms, but now it was on national television. The entire world stopped what they were doing to finally hear this story."

    About This Interview

    In his two-hour interview, Louis Gossett, Jr. (1936-2024) talks about his early life, and his early interest in sports and performing. He recalls taking classes at the Actors Studio, and early television roles on The Nurses and East Side/West Side. He recalls appearing both on stage and in the feature film version of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and alongside James Garner in Skin Game. He details playing the role of “Fiddler” in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, and speaks of finding the character, and improvising a line in a key scene, which was kept in with the permission of Alex Haley. Gossett discusses the impact of Roots, and what it was like to win the Emmy Award for his work on the series. He chronicles his Oscar-winning role in An Officer and a Gentleman, and other roles in features like The Cuban and Enemy Mine. He recalls playing “Anwar al-Sadat” in the critically acclaimed Sadat, and opines about race relations in America. Jenni Matz conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on July 9, 2018 in Malibu, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with Sidney Poitier in the feature film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun"

    03:19
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the time "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:07
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights, and on the phenomenon the show became

    01:41
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Anwar al-Sadat" in Sadat

    05:49
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Sgt. Emil Foley" in "An Officer and a Gentleman," directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Richard Gere

    03:43
    Thumbnail of Louis Gossett, Jr.

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on how he would like to be remembered

    00:22
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood, and his best friend growing up, Stanley Ralph Ross; on his early interest in sports and in performing; on being cast in the Broadway show "Take a Giant Step" at age 17

    07:51

    On what he learned from studying at the Actors Studio; on early television appearances on shows like The Nurses and East Side/West Side; on making the transition from stage to television and features; on appearing with Sidney Poitier in the feature film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," and on Norman Lear

    15:40

    On being cast as "Fiddler" in Roots, and on his initial disappointment with the role; on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process; on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the lime "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    10:21

    On the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights, and on the phenomenon the show became; on winning an Emmy Award for his role as "Fiddler" in Roots; on the legacy of Roots

    05:40

    Chapter 2

    On playing "Dr. MacArthur St. Clair" on The Lazarus Syndrome; on playing "Sgt. Emil Foley" in "An Officer and a Gentleman," directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Richard Gere; on the role of the actor in society, and how the arts can help or harm

    10:06

    On being the second black actor to win an Oscar, and on what it meant to his career; on the value of storytelling; on playing "Anwar al-Sadat" in Sadat

    11:06

    On appearing in the feature films "The Cuban" and "Enemy Mine" with Dennis Quaid; on overcoming creative differences with other actors and on the importance of doing research on characters; on the then-current state of race relations in America

    15:12

    On what he loves about acting; on his then-future plans, what he looks for in a role, and on his production company; on the many mentors in his life

    11:03

    On how the industry has changed since he started; on career achievements and regrets; on how he would like to be remembered

    04:30

    Companions in Nightmare

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing in the television movie Companions in Nightmare, and on facing discrimination during filming and coming to terms with racism in the industry

    05:00

    East Side/West Side

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on early television appearances on shows like The Nurses and East Side/West Side

    02:46

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on winning an Emmy for his role as "Fiddler" in Roots

    00:47

    Lazarus Syndrome, The

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Dr. MacArthur St. Clair" on The Lazarus Syndrome

    01:44

    Nurses, The

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on early television appearances on shows like The Nurses and East Side/West Side

    02:46

    Roots

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on being cast as "Fiddler" in Roots, and on his initial disappointment with the role

    03:08

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:07

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the decision to air Roots on consecutive nights, and on the phenomenon the show became

    01:39

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on winning an Emmy Award for his role as "Fiddler" in Roots

    00:47

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the legacy of Roots

    03:13

    Sadat

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Anwar al-Sadat" in Sadat

    05:49

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Fiddler" on Roots,

    07:14

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the many mentors in his life

    04:52

    Emmy Awards

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on winning an Emmy for his role as "Fiddler" in Roots

    00:47

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with James Garner in the feature film "Skin Game," and on appearing in socially-conscious projects

    02:07

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the impact producer Norman Lear had on opportunities for African-American actors in television

    00:24

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the legacy of Roots

    03:12

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the role of the actor in society, and how the arts can help or harm

    04:37

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on being the second black actor to win an Oscar, and on what it meant to his career

    04:18

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on how things have changed for African-American actors since he started

    01:17

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the many mentors in his life

    04:52

    Pop Culture

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Fiddler" in Roots

    07:14

    Representation on Television

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with James Garner in the feature film "Skin Game," and on appearing in socially-conscious projects

    02:07

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the impact producer Norman Lear had on opportunities for African-American actors in television

    00:24

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the legacy of Roots

    03:12

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the role of the actor in society, and how the arts can help or harm

    04:37

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on being the second black actor to win an Oscar, and on what it meant to his career

    04:18

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on how things have changed for African-American actors since he started

    01:17

    Television Industry

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on how the industry has changed since he started

    01:07

    Underrepresented Voices

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with James Garner in the feature film "Skin Game," and on appearing in socially-conscious projects

    02:07

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the impact producer Norman Lear had on opportunities for African-American actors in television

    00:24

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the legacy of Roots

    03:12

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the role of the actor in society, and how the arts can help or harm

    04:37

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on being the second black actor to win an Oscar, and on what it meant to his career

    04:18

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on how things have changed for African-American actors since he started

    01:17

    Actor

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on making the transition from stage to television and features

    00:45

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on overcoming creative differences with other actors and on the importance of doing research on characters

    04:03

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on what he loves about acting

    02:57

    Performers

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on making the transition from stage to television and features

    00:45

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on doing research to play "Fiddler" in Roots, and why the character was a breakthrough for him in terms of his acting process

    04:06

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on overcoming creative differences with other actors and on the importance of doing research on characters

    04:03

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on what he loves about acting

    02:57

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on early television appearances on shows like The Nurses and East Side/West Side

    02:46

    Medical Dramas

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on early television appearances on shows like The Nurses and East Side/West Side

    02:46

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on being cast as "Fiddler" in Roots, and on his initial disappointment with the role

    16:03

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Dr. MacArthur St. Clair" on The Lazarus Syndrome

    01:44

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on playing "Anwar al-Sadat" in Sadat

    05:49

    LeVar Burton

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene (with LeVar Burton and Vic Morrow) in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:06

    James Garner

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with James Garner in the feature film "Skin Game," and on appearing in socially-conscious projects

    02:07

    Alex Haley

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:06

    Norman Lear

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on the impact producer Norman Lear had on opportunities for African-American actors in television

    00:24

    Marilyn Monroe

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on an encounter with Marilyn Monroe at the Actors Studio

    01:18

    Vic Morrow

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on filming the "my name is Toby" scene (with LeVar Burton and Vic Morrow) in Roots, and on using the line "there's gonna be another day" (which he improvised) with Alex Haley's permission

    03:07

    Sidney Poitier

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing with Sidney Poitier in the feature film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun"

    08:19

    Dennis Quaid

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on appearing in the feature films "The Cuban" and "Enemy Mine" with Dennis Quaid

    03:46

    Stanley Ralph Ross

    Louis Gossett, Jr. on his childhood, and his best friend growing up, Stanley Ralph Ross

    02:13

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